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Olympians to Gather and 'Share the Spirit' at the Visa Olympians Reunion Center in Athens - Five-Time Olympian HSH Crown Prince Albert of Monaco Announces Details

MONACO and SAN FRANCISCO, CA (ots)

Five-time Olympian, HSH Crown
Prince Albert of Monaco, today announced his continuing support and
involvement in the Visa Olympians Reunion Center and invited all
Olympic alumni to enjoy ongoing hospitality during their visit to the
ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, in August 2004.
"Thanks to Visa, Olympians from around the world once more will 
have a place of their own -- to gather, renew old friendships and 
share their unique experiences while attending the Olympic Games in 
Athens next year," HSH Crown Prince Albert said today at a special 
media event at SPORTELMonaco. "Visa's support of the Reunion Center 
through the past two Olympic Games continues to promote the Olympic 
spirit and ideals. I say 'thank you Visa' on behalf of all 
Olympians."
As a five-time Olympian member of the WOA, Prince Albert is the 
International Spokesperson for the Visa Olympians Reunion Centre, 
working with the WOA to invite Olympians from around the world to 
visit Athens during the games.
"This will be the most exclusive club in town, created by Visa 
expressly for Olympians." said Tom Shepard, executive vice 
president, Global Marketing Partnerships and Sponsorship, Visa 
International. "With its central downtown location in Athens, the 
Visa Olympians Reunion Center will be a lively place for the 
world's Olympians to congregate and enjoy hospitality and will 
serve as a focal point for Olympic alumni to enjoy the full range 
of Olympic Family activities. Visa is proud to be the founder of 
this important program and proud of its continuing support to 
Olympic alumni world-wide."
Designed specifically for the use of Olympic alumni, the Reunion 
Center was first developed by Visa International for the 1996 Games 
in Atlanta and served again, in Sydney and Salt Lake City, to 
enhance the Games' experience for all visiting Olympians. More than 
5,700 individual Olympians and their family members visited the 
Sydney Center, while more than 2,500 visited the Center in Salt 
Lake City, the first at an Olympic Winter Games. Now part of an 
Olympic tradition, the Visa Olympians Reunion Center program in 
Athens is based on a partnership between the IOC, the World 
Olympians Association, the Hellenic Olympians Association and Visa, 
the founding partner.
The Visa Olympians Reunion Center will be located in downtown 
Athens in an historical area close to the National Gardens. The 
Visa Olympians Reunion Center will celebrate its Grand Opening with 
a special program in August prior to the opening of the Athens 
Olympic Games, and will remain open throughout the 17 days of the 
ATHOC 2004 Olympic Games.
"The Visa Olympians Reunion Center is a critical part of our focus
at the Olympic Games," remarked Pál Schmitt, President of the World 
Olympians Association (WOA), the international alumni organization 
founded by the International Olympic Committee. "We are proud to 
work together with Visa on the Visa Olympians Reunion Center 
project. This is an example of how a sponsor can impact the Olympic 
movement productively and work positively to expand every 
Olympian's opportunity to continue their involvement within the 
Olympic Family. We are very grateful to Visa for its ongoing 
commitment to the Olympic movement, and in particular for this 
program which has benefited thousands of Olympians since its 
inception at the 1996 Atlanta Games." Mr. Schmitt also serves as 
Chief of Protocol for the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 
Olympians are invited to pre-register for the Visa Olympians 
Reunion Center on the Internet by going to the World Olympians 
Association website at www.woaolympians.com . They will be able to 
get updated information on the Center and other activities of the 
World Olympians Association.
About Visa Visa is the world's leading payment brand generating 
US$2.5 trillion in annual card sales volume. Visa has unsurpassed 
acceptance in more than 150 countries. The Visa organization plays 
a pivotal role in developing innovative payment products and 
technologies to benefit its 21,000 member financial institutions 
and their cardholders. Visa is a leader in Internet based payments 
and is pioneering the creation of u-commerce, or universal 
commerce -- the ability to conduct commerce anywhere, anytime, and 
any way. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.
contact:
Michael Sherman
Phone   650-432-3923
E-Mail:  sherman@visa.com
Roz Barder
Phone   44-207-795-5336
E-Mail:  barderr@visa.com
Norbert Beatty
GCI
Phone   212-537-8131
E-Mail:  nbeatty@gcigroup.com

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